Great American Insurance Benefits: What Brokers Need to Know in 2026

Great American Insurance Group (GAIG) has been a quiet giant in insurance for over 150 years. In 2026, their employee benefits division is starting to get real attention from independent benefits brokers.

After acquiring Radeon Health (a level-funded and stop-loss specialist) in late 2024/early 2025, Great American rebranded and relaunched it as Great American Employer Health Solutions. They’re now actively quoting level-funded group health plans with aggressive pricing, flexible underwriting, and broker-friendly service.

Quick Background on Great American Insurance Group

• Founded: 1872 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Structure: Privately held (no public shareholders)
• A.M. Best rating: A+ (Superior) — held A or better for over 100 years
• Employees: ~7,800 globally
• Business lines: ~40 different insurance companies (P&C, specialty, crop, executive risk, surety, and now group health benefits)

They’re not a startup or a small player — they’re a massive, financially rock-solid carrier that decided to enter the level-funded group health market with full force.

Great American Employer Health Solutions – The Basics

• Target group size: 2–500 employees (sweet spot 10–200)
• Plan type: Level-funded (fixed monthly admin + claims fund + stop-loss)
• Stop-loss carrier: Great American itself (they write and manage the stop-loss)
• TPA: Allied Benefit Systems (very experienced level-funded TPA)
• Networks (2026):
  • Cigna OAP (broad access)
  • Cigna LocalPlus (deeper discounts in select markets, but exclusions)
  • Reference-Based Pricing (RBP) with active negotiation support

Included perks on most plans:
– Virtual primary care & virtual behavioral health (no cost, ages 10+ via Recuro)
– Recuro telemedicine suite (urgent care + primary care + behavioral)

Pros Brokers Are Reporting in 2026

1. Aggressive savings — Brokers frequently see 20–45% savings vs. traditional renewals, especially when moving from BUCAs or narrow networks.
2. A+ carrier writing the stop-loss — No third-party stop-loss carrier means fewer layers and potentially more pricing flexibility.
3. Flexible underwriting — AI-assisted + experienced underwriters; more lenient on pre-existing conditions than many legacy level-funded carriers.
4. Very small-group friendly — Down to 2 lives in many states (where allowed) and low/no SPAC options for groups that struggle with minimums.
5. RBP with negotiation (not litigation) — “Soft” RBP approach — they negotiate aggressively but pay what’s needed to keep access. Brokers like that it’s not “sue the provider” style.
6. Free virtual care suite — Virtual primary care + behavioral health (ages 10+) included on many plans — nice employee perk at no extra cost.
7. Broker-friendly service — Fast quotes (1–2 days typical), flexible commission (PEPM or % if requested), direct access to sales team.

Cons / Watch-Outs Brokers Mention

1. Still building scale — Level-funded book is new (ramped up mid-2025). Service is excellent now (small, hungry team) — but brokers are watching how it holds up at higher volume.
2. Employee Navigator integration still building — Full EDI feeds were not complete early 2026. Brokers who live in Navigator use workarounds (Patra, manual census, etc.) for now.
3. Network limitations in some markets — Cigna LocalPlus exclusions (e.g. BJC in St. Louis, Mercy in some areas) can kill deals if clients are network-loyal.
4. RBP not viable everywhere — In markets with very strong hospital systems that refuse RBP (e.g. certain parts of Wisconsin, parts of NJ/NY), brokers steer clear.
5. Renewal track record still short — Most cases are year 1 or early year 2 — brokers are watching whether savings hold over multiple renewals.

Quick Comparison vs. Other Level-Funded Players (Broker View 2026)

• Word & Brown / BenefitMall — Broader carrier depth, mature, but sometimes less aggressive savings
• BrokersBloc — Very strong savings, excellent service, similar alternative/TPA focus
• Great American Employer Health Solutions — Newer, very aggressive pricing, A+ carrier stop-loss, flexible underwriting, but scale/integration still ramping
• The Benefits Trust / Taylor Benefits — Strong level-funded, good savings, narrower networks in some markets

Bottom Line for Brokers in 2026

Great American Employer Health Solutions is one of the more exciting newer level-funded players. Brokers who prioritize aggressive savings, flexible underwriting, and an A+ rated carrier writing the stop-loss are quoting it heavily — especially on groups 10–200.

The main hurdles right now are:
– Completing full Navigator integration
– Proving multi-year renewal stability
– Navigating network exclusions in certain cities

If you have a client frustrated with big-carrier renewals and open to alternative networks/RBP, Great American is worth running in most states.

Quick Reference Links

• Great American Insurance Group
• Employee Navigator (common enrollment platform)
• KFF 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey
• NAIC Consumer Guide to Health Insurance